Plane
and simple
Smith’s new golf school at Otter Creek takes golfers back to basics
“I use simple English. I
don’t use golf speak. I want
to make sure that I can
reach as many people as
possible without the language and jargon of golf
being the barrier to communication. I want to make
sure I focused on that name
because it brings in the notion that it really is simple
because this game can be
made simple. It’s a matter
of language; it’s a matter
of understanding just how
few things there really are
that you have to get done
to play golf and play golf
well.”

BY TYLER V. HOEPPNER
thoeppner@therepublic.com
Jeff Smith loves to teach the game of
golf. Men or women, 5 to 95 years old,
beginner to pro it doesn’t matter. Smith
wants everyone to learn the game.
But his administrative duties at Harrison Lake Country Club took up too much
of his time while he was there for the
past seven seasons.
Smith has always
wanted to start a golf
school, and now he
has. Smith recently
retired from Harrison
Lake and will open
Plane and Simple Golf
School at Otter Creek
Golf Course.
The opening for the
Otter Creek members
will be April 9, and the
JEFF SMITH
public opening will be
April 10.
“This is a town full of people, full of
kids who want to get better and there are
specialized programs for a lot of other
things except golf,” Smith said.
Smith is certainly going to give
individual golf lessons, but the goal of
his school is to introduce golf to a new
generation of players, and that doesn’t
mean just children.
While junior clinics will be a prime
part of the school, Smith also plans on
women’s clinics and corporate clinics.
Smith chose the name Plane, as in swing
plane, and Simple because that is how he
teaches.
And the clinics will not be just oneweek in-and-out sessions. The school is
set up so that people can come at any
time and receive training.
“I use simple English. I don’t use golf
speak. I want to make sure that I can
reach as many people as possible without
the language and jargon of golf being the
barrier to communication,” Smith said.
“I want to make sure I focused on that
name because it brings in the notion that
it really is simple because this game can
be made simple.
“It’s a matter of language; it’s a matter of understanding just how few things
there really are that you have to get done
to play golf and play golf well.”

Immediate benefit
Chad Cockerham, head professional

– Jeff Smith

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Jeff Smith shows the correct stance to hit from a bunker on an uphill lie.
at Otter, is very excited for the school to
open.

For one, he adds Smith and his knowledge to his staff. Two, Cockerham will

get more opportunities to teach as well
since Smith will be doing all of the organizing. Smith plans on using Cockerham
and assistant pro Kit Venderley for the
large group sessions.
And three, it’s another service Cockerham can offer that he currently cannot.
“It gives us the opportunity to branch
out and brings in not only more services
for our local players, it allows us to use it
as a draw for out of town players as well,
be that teaching camps or packages that
include teaching and golf,” he said.
Cockerham has given Smith a room
to set up all of his indoor equipment, and
the use of indoor facilities will be beneficial as there will never be a weather
issue.

Edited by Joe Gill

2010 GOLF GUIDE

The Republic, Columbus, Ind., Thursday, March 11, 2010

3

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Jeff Smith shows the stance and club position to hit from a bare spot.

Tips from the pros
If you’re looking for ways to improve
your game, you came to the right place

STAFF REPORTS
“Pay attention to the shot at hand.
Don’t bring the shot that you just messed
up with you. Your ball is where it is. You
have to deal with it as it is. Pay attention
to only that at the time you are hitting
the shot.”

to your round. Give yourself 15 minutes,
even if it’s just swinging for 10 minutes
and rolling a few putts. I think if everyone would give themselves 15 minutes
before they start, it will make them a
much better player.”

— Chad Cockerham, Head Professional
at Otter Creek Golf Course
See TIPS on Page 13

4

2010 GOLF GUIDE

The Republic, Columbus, Ind., Thursday, March 11, 2010

Edited by Joe Gill

Get a grip on your game
in Bartholomew, Johnson and Jackson
counties.
He recommends going to a PGA professional or a club maker to get your clubs
fitted to you before you even take a lesson.
In addition to club fitting, Myers
does regripping, reshfting, loft
and lie adjustments, club
head refinishing and
swing weight adjustments among other
things.
In today’s economy, it’s
difficult for people to justify
spending several hundred
dollars on new clubs. New
shafts and new grips can cost
a fraction of that, leading to
improvements without spending a lot of money.
You’ll play better and play
with more consistency.
“Everyone’s swing is different,” Myers said. “If the golf club
isn’t set up to fit your golf swing,
you’re never going to be able to hit
the ball correctly.”

BY TYLER V. HOEPPNER
thoeppner@therepublic.com
In a promotion for its 2008 Trade-In
Network, the PGA said 60 percent of golfers don’t use clubs that have been fitted
for them.
That means too many golfers are
simply using the wrong clubs,
which in turn leads to bad
scores.
Despite advances in technology, the average score has
not gone down in the last 40
years, according to a 2009 New
York Times story.
“The reason most people get
new clubs is because they have it
in their head that they can’t hit the
ones they had,” said Ryan Myers,
owner of Ryan’s Grip Repair. “... the
golf club is probably not fitted properly for them.”
Myers is a 2007 Columbus East
graduate who began working on the
clubs of family and friends, which has
sprung into quite the business. He has
contracts with several big-time courses

sunny day, a lush green, a driver
smashed down the fairway … and
your wife.
Golf is a fantastic game, a game of
fun and exercise. It can be a relationship
builder, providing a common interest and
hours of enjoyment.
However for too many couples, it turns
into a game of arguing instead.
So how to keep it fun? Here are some
easy points to remember to keep your
relationship on par.
z Golf is a difficult game to learn and
a tricky game to teach. The stress of the
game combined with performance anxiety can stymie a relationship. Teaching
the game of golf should really be left to a
PGA professional.
Lessons and clinics are affordable and
available for everyone. Consider ladies’
clinics, golf 101 or even couples lessons to
get started out right. Hit the range a few
times before trying the links.
z When out on the course remember
to ENJOY it. Relish the walk. Smell the
freshly cut grass. Admire the precisely
mown fairways. Listen to nature around
you.
Keep it fun, and forget about keep-

ing score. Kick the ball out of the trees
or toss it on the green. Play from each
other’s drives. This is not the day to keep
your score for the handicap computer.
z Other ways to put some fun in the
game include putting contests, longest
putt made, straightest drive.
Some couples will play for huge
amounts of money, knowing full well it’s
all in the same checking account.
Still other couples will play for points
of honor: washing dishes, washing the
other’s clubs or taking out the trash.
Use approximate handicaps or “give
each other strokes.”
z There are some points on which
couples can advise each other. Keeping
moods in check and working on swing
tempo are a couple. Of course, help with
yardage, clubbing and reading putts is
always appreciated.
In summary, leave your stress in the
parking lot and enjoy the day. Use humor, games and compliments.
And remember, teaching the game of
golf should be left to the pros, but enjoying the game of golf is for everyone.
Jeff Smith is director of instruction at Otter Creek Golf Course.

In the past few years, golf has become
a game dominated much more by physical
fitness. It started in the PGA with the top
professionals and has trickled down to the
amateur ranks.
And trainers at local gyms are seeing more
and more golfers
come in, ask for help
and look for results.
“Golf can take a
toll on your body,”
said Ian McGriff, head
trainer and fitness director at Tipton Lakes
Athletic Club. “As
much as you work on
those rotational movements and as much
as you drive down on
the ball and sit in the low position, your legs
have to be strong. Your back has to be strong.
And you have to have good joint integrity to
maintain all the movements so you can make
it through the season.”
It’s not just for ultra-competitive golfers either. The average weekend warrior can benefit
from the tips listed below.
After talking with two local trainers — McGriff and Dr. Nathan Frasier of Frasier Chiropractic and MVP Sports — several philosophies emerged. And while both have their own
methods, the same principals apply. Golfers

need to work on balance, chest and shoulder
strength, rotation and core strength.
“Even a lot of the things I teach my athletes, they can do most of this stuff if they’re
dedicated to doing it. The thing about coming
in here is I make them do it,” Frasier said.
“Ninety percent of the stuff they do in here,
they can go to any gym and do it or buy their
own equipment and
do it.”
That’s true of most
of the beginning and
intermediate tips
below, and much of
the equipment — balance discs and BOSU
balls — can be found
at Target or sporting
goods stores. Yet Frasier and McGriff each
have a piece of unique
equipment for advanced training.
Several of the exercises incorporate several
disciplines, while others focus on just one. But
each offers something unique to advance your
game just a little further.

More golfers
turning
to trainers, gyms
for help with fitness

ANDREW LAKER | THE REPUBLIC

Dr. Nathan Frasier, above, swings an iron on a Vertimax training system at MVP
Sports, Friday. Right, Ian McGriff, Tipton Lakes Athletic Club fitness director,
throws punches with stretch bands during a demonstration on building stability and strength in the chest.

Balance
● Elastic band lateral walk
McGriff uses this exercise to work on joint
integrity and balance. Put an elastic band
around your ankles, step to one side, then step

See FITNESS on Page 7

2010 GOLF GUIDE

Edited by Joe Gill

The Republic, Columbus, Ind., Thursday, March 11, 2010

7

ANDREW LAKER | THE REPUBLIC

Using a BOSU trainer, Tipton Lakes Athletic Club fitness director Ian McGriff demonstrates a scorpion kick, an exercise helpful in building
rotation in the hips.

PHYSICAL
Continued from Page 6

with the other foot. Move in both directions to work the outside of the hips.
Strong hips help when you have an
uneven lie, such as when you are in a
bunker.
● 1-leg stands and taps
Stand on foam mats, a pillow, BOSU
ball or any unstable surface. Do it
barefoot to really engage all of the little
muscle fibers.
Start with just standing on one leg
then stand on the other. Next get a
partner to tap you on different parts of
your body — hip, shoulder, knee — and
you follow by tapping the same spot. This
works on staying balanced while shifting
your weight.
● Balancing-discs swings
Frasier has students begin with the
one-leg stands on balance discs. Once
they have that down, he has them stand
with each foot on a disc.
The players will take swings with a
club, focusing on keeping balance and
shifting weight. It’s instant feedback. If
you’re off-balance, you’ll fall off the discs.
A more advanced exercise involves
standing on an upside-down BOSU ball
and swinging a club. You will have to stay
very centered and balanced to keep the
ball from tipping.

ANDREW LAKER | THE REPUBLIC

Dr. Nathan Frasier demonstrates an exercise to improve balance.

Core strength
● Ball rotations
Sit on a BOSU ball and balance your-

self. Next take a medicine ball or any
weighted object and twist side to side,
touching the object to the ground. To

make it more difficult, lift your heels off
the ground.
● Ball walks
There are four progressions to this
exercise that Frasier uses, and it focuses
on your core abdominals and oblique
muscles.
First get in the push-up position with
your feet on a medicine ball. Hold this
position without twisting or falling off to
the side.
Second, keeping your abdominals
tight, walk the ball with your feet up to
your hands and back. Once you can do
that easily, bend over at the waist with
a ball in your hands. Walk the ball out
with your hands and extend out with no
rotation.
If you can do each one independently,
you are ready for the final step. In the
push-up position, put a ball under your
feet and in your hands. Now your upper and lower body must work together
to stay still. This requires great body
control.
● Gate swing
Core strength is more than just abdominals and includes the gluteus, hamstrings and back muscles. You’ll want
to make these areas stronger and more

See PHYSICAL on Page 8

8

2010 GOLF GUIDE

The Republic, Columbus, Ind., Thursday, March 11, 2010

Edited by Joe Gill

“Golf can take a toll on your
body. As much as you work
on those rotational movements
and as much as you drive down
on the ball and sit in the low
position, your legs have to be
strong. Your back has to be
strong. And you have to have
good joint integrity to maintain
all the movements so you can
make it through the season.”
– Ian McGriff, fitness director
at Tipton Lakes Athletic Club

flexible. Simple hamstring curls and back
extensions will increase strength.
Muscles are easier to stretch when
they are warmed up, and McGriff likes
the gate swing as a great warm-up to a
round.
Balance yourself by holding onto your
car or a wall, swing a leg up and down,
trying to get it higher and higher each
time.
This will really loosen the hamstring,
and once you do this for both legs, you
can do a static stretch by just bending
down and touching your toes.

Rotation
● Scorpion kicks
This exercise comes from McGriff.
Get in the push-up position. Bring one
leg up and under the other leg, rotating
the hips and the core.
Do several kicks with one leg, then
switch to the other.
To add complexity, flip a BOSU over
with hands on the flat part and do the
scorpion kicks.
● TRX strap swings
TRX is a strap system that uses
your body weight as resistance. It’s also
perfect for working on your golf swing
rotation.
Get in your normal, comfortable
swing position with your hands in the
straps.
Take your arms back like you’re
swinging normally, then swing and follow
through. Do the rotations continuously.

It will work on getting the turn you need
and gets the shoulders to drive through
the swing.
You will create a larger range of motion.
● Vertimax Swings
Frasier uses the Vertimax training
at MVP Sports. Cables are attached to
a person with different tension weights.
The cables are attached at the waist, legs
and wrists.
To a degree, it’s sort of like running
with ankle weights on, only more complex.
Frasier has players swing a club,
and it is difficult. The cables force you
to concentrate on staying balanced and
transfer your weight properly. You have
to work on how you take the club back
and on the follow-through. There is tension on the body no matter what direction you are moving in.
Once the cables are taken off, the
player swings again. The muscles have
been confused with the training, the
swing now seems much easier and the
range of motion has increased.

Chest strength
● Alternating chest press
Strong chest muscles create more
strength in the entire upper body. McGriff likes to use single-arm, alternating
dumbbell presses to get independent
movements. He also likes to use elastic
band punches, which keeps the tension
on the muscles at all times.

Triumph, despair
Golf in 2009 filled with stories of people overcoming tragedy, obstacles

Ted Bishop

M

ore than a year ago, I began
the adventure of writing an
occasional golf story for the
Daily Journal in Johnson County. The
Republic in Columbus added my stories
to its sports menu. Eventually, some of
my work migrated to the Greene County
World, the Terre Haute Tribune Star and
PGA.com.
It has been a labor of love for me. It
was fun but sometimes very challenging
to provide daily diaries from The Masters, the Open Championship in Scotland
and the PGA Championship. My schedule at those major championships is
non-stop, and meeting deadlines doesn’t
come easy.
Readers have been great about openly
expressing their pleasure about my golf
tales. In particular, people seem to enjoy
the accounts from The Masters and
those from across the pond at the Open
Championship. Those two events in 2009
produced the biggest heartbreaks.
Kenny Perry was the sentimental
favorite to win at Augusta after taking
a two-shot lead with two holes to play.
Then he narrowly missed a career-defining chance, when he lost in a suddendeath playoff.
I remember driving home to Indiana
on the day after The Masters. Every
place I stopped, someone noticed The
Masters logo on my vest, and many said,
“I sure was rooting for that Perry guy to
win.”
The day after the British Open at
Turnberry in Scotland, I found myself
on a plane seated two rows behind Tom
Watson. As we flew from Glasgow to London, I watched the man sign countless
autographs. He did it with style, grace
and humility.
Ironically, the headline in the British
tabloids said, “Cruel in the Sun.” This
was a takeoff of Watson’s historic Open
Championship years before, when he
defeated Jack Nicklaus in the “Duel in
the Sun.”
Perry and Watson dealt with their golf
miseries in a gentlemanly fashion. One
of my favorite interviews last summer
was with Sandy Perry, wife of Kenny.
She put The Masters defeat in proper
context, and it was real apparent that the

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tom Watson's amazing but unsuccessful run at the 2009 Open Championship in Scotland was among golf’s biggest stories last year.
Perry family had its priorities checked in
the proper place. Their lives would go on.

is moving on for these guys and their
families.

Smith back on tour

Military heroes

The lives of Chris Smith and his family really didn’t go on after Father’s Day
last summer. Beth Smith, wife of Chris
and mother of two children, was tragically killed in an automobile crash on
Father’s Day. It left Smith and his two
kids, Abigail and Cameron, with a whole
bunch of life’s pieces to pick up.
Part of their journey back to a normal
life started Aug. 7, when 288 players
gathered at The Legends of Indiana to
play in a golf tournament to help raise
money for the beleaguered Smith family.
The golf tournament and auction raised
more than $140,000 for the Smith family. The event was supported by sports
figures from all over the United States
and once again proved what a tight-knit
community the golf world actually is.
Several weeks ago, Chris Smith made
his return to the PGA Tour in Mexico.
He missed the cut by one shot. The same
week, the PGA Tour announced that its
players had voted to donate one-half of
their Wednesday pro-am winnings in 2010
to the foundations started by Smith and
Ken Green, the Champions Tour player
who lost a leg in a motor home accident
last summer. So to some degree, life

My writings in 2009 also documented
the stories of Don Vickery and Gary
Henry. These two men served their country in the military, and golf touched their
lives in totally different ways.
Vickery lost both legs at a military
base in Georgia, when a land mine exploded. He decided to take up golf after

his accident. In 2009, he earned his PGA
membership, becoming the first double
amputee in the PGA’s 93-year history to
do so.
For those who don’t know, Vickery
had to pass a playing test to earn his
membership. At age 51, he shot 78-75 with
two artificial legs and half of a hand.
There is hope for anyone!
Henry was killed in a roadside bombing in Iraq during the PGA Champion-

Continued from Page 10
ship in 2008.
To my knowledge, Sgt. Henry never played
golf. He left three kids behind.
PGA of America spearheads a program
called Patriot Golf Day, which raises money
for Folds of Honor Foundation.
In March 2009, Henry’s children were
awarded scholarships through Folds of Honor,
which assists family members of fallen or
disabled heroes who have given service to our
country.
Because of golf, the Henry kids will be able
to attend college.
In fact, Shelby and Gavin, the oldest of the
Henry children, were fitted for golf clubs this
week and will attend an Indiana Golf Academy
session in Franklin this summer.

Play Golf America
Then there was the story of Melvin Bullitt,
safety for the Indianapolis Colts. No. 33 showed
up at the Play Golf America Day last May.
A complete novice, Bullitt soon became a
total golf addict.
Through hard work and dedication, the
Colts’ player actually started breaking 50 for
nine holes before training camp started in late
July.
Bullitt will be featured as a golfer in an
upcoming CBS Sports special in May. He has
also graciously agreed to be the Honorary
Chairman for the 2010 Indiana PGA Play Golf
America Day.

Because of his efforts, Indiana Golf Foundation will award scholarships to kids for Indiana
Golf Academy.
“Melvin’s Silver Bullitts” will have the opportunity to learn golf and be linked with a
course in their hometowns at no charge.
“I would encourage all kids to give golf a
shot. I promise golf is something that you will
enjoy,” Bullitt said.
“Many minority kids need the opportunity
to experience golf. You never know what might
happen to a kid that gets the chance to play
golf.”
In my opinion, that is good advice for everyone! Who knows what stories will evolve from
2010? Golf will produce excitement, magic,
despair, gratification and a sense of accomplishment.
And for you?
Play more golf this summer. It is a great
form of recreation. You can do golf with your
family or friends, and even that competitive
nemesis we all have in our lives!
If you have never played golf, call any
course in the area and sign up for Get Golf
Ready.
This program will get you five instructional
sessions for only $99! You don’t need clubs, just
bring yourself!
Ted Bishop is director of golf at The Legends of
Indiana Golf Course in Franklin and secretary of
the PGA of America.

Indianapolis Colts' safety Melvin Bullitt (33) became a diehard golfer after appearing in Play Golf American Day last May.

12

The Republic, Columbus, Ind., Thursday, March 11, 2010

2010 GOLF GUIDE

Edited by Joe Gill

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Youths at a junior golf camp learn how to repair ball marks on the green.

How to start your kids in golf
Take child when he shows interest; when he stops having fun, it’s time to leave
BY TYLER V. HOEPPNER
thoeppner@therepublic.com
Jimmy St. John started in golf when
he was 6 years old, which he believes is
part of the reason he is so proficient.
But he also believes there is no magic
age when a child is ready to start golf.
The biggest factor is an eager child.
“I think the key is for parents to
take their kids any time they show any
interest,” said St. John, professional at
Timbergate Golf Course. “The other key
is when they stop having fun, it’s time to
leave. Don’t make them finish a 9. Don’t
make them finish a hole.
“If the fun is over, then it’s time to
go.”
An interest in the game and having
fun were the two biggest factors cited by
local professionals about introducing the
game to youth.
A good starting age seemed to be
around 5 or 6, when children already
have some coordination and can pay attention for 15-30 minutes.
At Shadowood Golf Course, Director
of Golf Todd DeHaven allows children to

ride around with the parents in carts just
to get them used to being on a course
and learn the basic etiquette of staying
quiet.
This is also the time to take a child
to the driving range, get a club in their
hands and let them get a sense of the
basic motions.
Frank Chieppa, head pro at The
Legends of Indiana Golf Course, ran a
successful youth clinic at his previous
course in West Dundee near Chicago.
At an early age, he stresses the
fundamentals of how to hold a club, how
to stand and how not to get hurt or hurt
anyone else. Children need to know how
to hold the club so they won’t throw it,
and how to swing so as not to hit themselves in the foot or leg.
Chieppa sees a lot of grandparents
bringing children to golf, as it’s a great
cross-generation game. He doesn’t think
it matters who takes the child golfing as
long as they have fun.
Dads don’t have to take just sons, and
moms take just daughters. He doesn’t
believe children look at it that way. It’s

more just the relationship between the
child and the parent.

Next step
By ages 7-9 — depending on the child
— they might be ready for some more
advanced instruction. They might be

seeking out club professionals as well.
This is also the time when children
are more ready for play on courses. Par 3
courses are a great way to start. If you’re
at a full course, find ways to make it a
little easier on them as they get used to

Continued from Page 3
“Most people have a tendency to slice the ball. One
of the best things you can do is put tees slightly on the
outside of the ball and in a line back about six inches.
That keeps you from coming from the outside in. It
helps redirect the swing on the downward path.”

— Todd DeHaven, Director of Golf
at Shadowood Golf Course
“Make sure you stretch out and warm up, especially
this time of the year. It’s the quickest way to shorten a
season by somebody going out and
playing golf when it’s cooler, and
muscles are tight from inactivity all
winter, and you pull a back muscle or
a hamstring.”

— Frank Chieppa, Head Professional
at The Legends of Indiana Golf
Course

FRANK CHIEPPA
HEAD PROFESSIONAL
AT THE LEGENDS
OF INDIANA

“Address for success. Pay special
attention to your stance, grip and
alignment. That often gets overlooked, and 90 percent of what you
can do is done before you even move
the club.”

— Jimmy St. John, Head
Professional
at Timbergate Golf Course
“Make sure your alignment is correct. When players’
senses tell them they are aimed correctly when they’re
not, they have to compensate with their swing to get
the ball where they want it to. Correct stance and alignment is very important.”

— Keith Clark, Professional
at Hickory Stick Golf Course

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Jeff Smith shows a student the correct position to hold his arms on his backswing.

Season Pass

*Initiation fee will be waived on all subsequent years as long
as fees for the following year are paid before January 1st.

New wedge rules
rough to understand
BY TYLER V. HOEPPNER
thoeppner@therepublic.com
USGA made waves last year when it announced
several wedges would be illegal beginning this season because the grooves were
too sharp.
After rigorous testing, it
was determined that wedges
with spin-milled grooves were
too sharp and created too
much spin.
As a result, shots out of
the rough became easier, and
shots off the fairway spun
more than ever.
But the rule had created a
lot of confusion for the average player and headaches for golf professionals.
The rule only applies to those golfers playing on
professional tours.
By 2014, the rule will apply to club professionals

for tournaments.
The rule will not apply for amateurs until 2024.
“They hear on TV that these guys can’t use the
wedges they used last year. They assume they can’t
use them to post their handicap scores,” Otter
Creek head professional Chad
Cockerham said.
“It’s a situation where there
are a lot of people in panic
mode, and they don’t need
to be because they’ve got 14
more years to use it.”
The grooves on wedges tend
to wear out after a few years,
so a player’s current wedge
won’t be of much use by 2024
anyway.
However, expect manufacturers to continue to
produce the spin-milled grooves for several more
years, as amateurs still will be allowed to use the
clubs.

But don’t get
alarmed; amateur
golfers not
affected until ’24

SUBMITTED PHOTO

The USGA has decided that several wedges, those with spin-milled
grooves, would be illegal beginning this season.

• Weekly Saturday Men’s Club
• Weekly Women’s Club Activities
• Corporate or Group Outings can be accommodated
• Golf Lessons available by PGA professional Steve Cohen (by appt. only)

Monthly
Sunday
Mixed
Scrambles

Both courses are public facilities that cater to the walk-in golf traffic. Par-3 requires no tee times.
Greenbelt requires tee times weekdays after 3:30 pm and weekends. Junior Golf - Register at Greenbelt beginning May 1st. Sessions begin June 3rd.

2010 GOLF GUIDE

Edited by Joe Gill

The Republic, Columbus, Ind., Thursday, March 11, 2010

15

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Jeff Smith gives a student pointers on putting, left, and and gives another youngster, right, tips on holding down on the club.

KIDS

Continued from Page 12
being out there.
Buddy systems also work well. If your
child has a friend who likes to play, take
them together. They’ll see the game as
something fun to do with their friends.

Finding the right clubs
DeHaven said a lot of parents will put
a club in a child’s hand that is way too
heavy, often cutting down one of their old

clubs.
And that’s the worst thing they can do.
“Normally we can find something for
them to practice with,” DeHaven said.
“They don’t need more than one club just
to get hand-eye coordination.”
Until a child shows a strong passion,
there is no reason to invest a lot of money
in clubs. Chieppa recommends garage
sales, stores such as Play it Again Sports

and even hand-me-downs.
Don’t get caught up in the brand
name. Chieppa, St. John and DeHaven all
agreed that niche companies do a great
job of producing good junior sets.
Children grow quickly, and clubs can
become too short in a hurry, another
reason not to invest too much.
By the time they are playing a little
more consistency, kids still don’t need full

sets.
One of the biggest challenges in getting a child hooked on golf is the glut of
choices available to them.
“Kids nowadays expect immediate
results,” St. John said. “They expect to be
the best of everything as soon as they try
it. Anymore it’s instant gratification.”
Encouragement but not pushiness will
help a child develop a passion.

Enjoy a new golﬁng experience!
The course was closed during the 2009 season
and underwent major renovations.
Available for outings and other social events
Memberships available – Special senior days
Full service drink and food bars
Tee times available for Members
No outside food or drinks allowed, except for catered events
Appropriate dress necessary
E 200 S

46

46

S 650 E

E 300 S

31

S 750 E

S 600 E

S 525 E

S 450 E

7

Contact Charles Kerber for
Memberships, Outings and other information

E 300 S

Club: 812-579-9173 • Cell: 812-345-4030

S 750 E

EL
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nd
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Rd

16

7

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S 525 E

E Co Rd 400 S

E 400 S

Send us your e-mail address at
SGC@sycamoregolfclub.com
for news of upcoming events.